In Pics: Captain's Run At Lansdowne Road

26 February 2006 06:24

Click here for photos from Saturday's Captain's Run session at Lansdowne Road.

Pictured above: Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll ditches the oval ball for a bit of soccer practice at the tail end of the session at Lansdowne Road. Asked about his current form at Saturday's press conference, the Irish captain said:"I haven't really though too much about it, but I've enjoyed getting back into the swing of things (after the injury lay-off). With each passing game I've felt a little bit more confident and a little bit closer to where I want to be.

"My general sharpness is starting to pick up. I think feeling good in training is one of the tell tale signs. I think when you start feeling good in training you're usually able to take that out on to the pitch."

Munster prop John Hayes, who will earn his 60th cap for his country this afternoon, takes part in a passing drill at Lansdowne Road. Today will be Hayes' seventh Test against Wales - he has yet to score against the men from the Valleys.

Gordon D'Arcy fields a pass. The Leinster centre, who scored his third Test try a fortnight ago in Paris, is set for his 18th cap since making his senior debut as a teenager at the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

Brian O'Driscoll sees the funny side of things alongside a bemused looking Gordon D'Arcy. O'Driscoll is expecting a tough encounter with the Welsh despite their recent troubles, caused by the shock resignation of Grand Slam-winning coach Mike Ruddock last week. O'Driscoll said: "I'm a firm believer in the fact that you don't become a bad side overnight, and even though Wales have a number of injuries at the moment, they're still very much a team to be reckoned with.

"They were very consistent last year and I think that was the main reason they managed to win the Grand Slam. Winning a competition like this is all about attaining that level on consistency. But at times, they were very beatable. I think we saw that when they played the French, but they did well to stay in touch in that game, and turned things around in the second half.

"Against us, they got a block-down early on and managed to pull away. They got an extra try that disappointed us as well - but they were very good. They knew their style of play very well and they were good at it."

Full-back Geordan Murphy in action at the Captain's Run. Ireland have won eight, lost nine and drew one of their clashes with Wales since 1970. The omens of an Irish win are good - 2002 saw Ireland play the Welsh on a Sunday. They thrashed the Dragons 54-10 in coach Eddie O'Sullivan's first game in charge. Two days after, then Wales coach Graham Henry resigned.

Leinster and Ireland colleagues Shane Horgan and Brian O'Driscoll joke around at the session. Winger Horgan will hope to come back into scoring form against the Welsh - the Drogheda man has only scored one try in his last 11 outings in green. However, Horga's record against Wales is heartening, with a try every two games.

Newly-appointed Ireland Women's captain Ciara Griffin talks about attending her first Women's Six Nations launch and her pride at leading her country into the tournament, which kicks off with a trip to Toulouse next week to face France.

Speaking to Irish Rugby TV in Dubai, IRFU referee Joy Neville said she was 'over the moon and very proud' to receive the World Rugby Referee of the Year award last Sunday. She is in Dubai to referee in the opening round of the World Sevens Series this week, and is also looking forward to her Challenge Cup refereeing debut on Friday, December 15 (Bordeaux-Bègles v Enisei-STM).

First half tries from Darren Sweetnam, Jack Conan and Dave Kearney laid the foundations for Ireland's 23-20 win over Fiji in the second game of the GUINNESS Series at the Aviva Stadium. Check out the match highlights on Irish Rugby TV.

Tries from Andrew Conway, Rhys Ruddock, Rob Herring and Jacob Stockdale, and a man-of-the-match performance from Jonathan Sexton, gave Ireland a record 38-3 win against South Africa in the opening game of the GUINNESS Series. Check out the match highlights.

Who we are is how we play. Fancy seeing more of how we all belong to the #TeamOfUs? Check out the extended version of the new ad from Vodafone Ireland featuring Conor Murray, Rory Best, Tadhg Furlong and Tiernan O'Halloran.

They may have left the island but they've never really left Ireland behind. The Irish diaspora of 70 million people around the world are ready to 'arise and go now', ready for the world, ready for a tournament like no other. Bob Geldof reads from 'The Lake Isle At Innisfree' by WB Yeats.

The ChildFund 'Pass It Back' Belfast Cup brought together girls from Vietnam, the Philippines and Laos with players from across Ulster to celebrate the power of sport and highlight how rugby is developing in Asia.

Monday was community legacy day at Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 as the IRFU's 'Spirit of Rugby' programme brought together some local disability rugby players from DLSP Eagles, Seapoint Dragons and Westmanstown Wasps, and a number of WRWC players and coaches from the competing nations, for a fun-filled coaching/training session and Tag rugby games.

Monday was a momentous day for the Ireland Women's camp as the 28-strong squad was revealed for the Women's Rugby World Cup on home soil. Head coach Tom Tierney and captain Niamh Briggs spoke to the press at the announcement in UCD.

IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne spoke to Irish Rugby TV about the Union's 2016/17 Annual Report, which includes increased investment in Women's rugby and addresses the challenges of funding for the game in Ireland.

The launch of a commemorative stamp to mark the Women's Rugby World Cup in Ireland was a special day for Women's rugby, team captain Niamh Briggs and her family. We spoke to her and her dad Mike at the GPO.

Marie Louise Reilly joined her Ireland team-mates Nora Stapleton and Lindsay Peat at a recent Dublin City Council event in support of the upcoming Women's Rugby World Cup. Reilly, who works as a DCC Sports Officer, said: "The team are coming together really well, we're working hard and hopefully August will be really memorable not just for us but for the whole country."

Fiona Coghlan, Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 Ambassador and Chair of the Dublin City Sports and Wellbeing Partnership, speaks about Dublin City Council's support of the tournament in August and the momentum and excitement building in the capital and around the four provinces for WRWC 2017.